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Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. The numbers are more often seen in video games and only ones played on easy mode. Jonah Tong leads the entire minor leagues in strikeouts by more than 30, punching out 40.5 percent of the batters he has faced. His 1.43 ERA is the tiniest among all qualified minor leaguers. Opponents are batting .148 against him, which, again, is No. 1. And the rare times contact has been made, it has not traveled far: Hitters have hit two home runs in 113 / innings against him. How will stuff that has proven almost literally unhittable for a long stint in Double-A and a brief stint in Triple-A translate when major league hitters are in the batters box? Theres only one way to find out, right? manager Carlos Mendoza said. The Mets are going to find out. In a development that would have been considered shocking even a few weeks ago, the Mets are calling up an electric arm that has rocketed through their system. During a stretch of 16 games in 16 days with a rotation that has pitched poorly on four days rest in particular, Tong will fill in as a sixth starter and make his debut Friday in Queens against the Marlins. Mets Jonah Tong (16) throws a pitch during MLBs All-Star Futures Game. Brett Davis-Imagn Images This went fast for Jonah, David Stearns acknowledged before over the Phillies. But to his credit, he really conquered everything we put in front of him. With a unique, straight-over-the-top delivery that has prompted countle s comparisons to Tim Lincecum, a mid-90s four-seamer that has touched 98 mph and lives at the top of the zone, and a changeup that plummets, Tong conquered competition through 20 starts at Double-A Binghamton. He received just two starts with Syracuse and pitched 11 / scorele s innings while striking out 17. At the higher level, opposing hitters swung and mi sed at 41.1 percent of his fastballs and an astounding 50 percent of his changeups. In promoting a 22-year-old who might not have even unpacked in Syracuse, Stearns did not cite those numbers. The president of baseball operations cited a tremendous maturity that Jacques Plante Jersey Tong has displayed in always being able to find and occasionally improvise a plan that works. Sometimes he has had to go to his slider more, Stearns said, and sometimes he has mixed in a few extra curveballs because the offering was working. In 22 starts, Tong has not really been dented. He allowed three runs in each of his first two starts this season and let up fewer in the ensuing 20. Explore More If there is a drawback to Tongs game, it is a lack of trust in his entire arsenal outside of his fastball and changeup, and in his control, walking 3.72 per nine innings this year. Teams would prefer to summon a weapon with this kind of power when the command is better honed, but the Mets need a capable arm now. Inserting Tong on Friday will ensure an extra day of rest for David Peterson (scheduled for Saturday), Kodai Senga (Sunday) and the next time through the rotation for Sean Manaea, Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes. Senga pitched for the first time this year on four days of rest Monday and did not record an out in the fifth inning. Mets starters entered play Tuesday with a 5.47 ERA on four days of rest and a 3.41 ERA on five days of rest. Will the Mets stick with a six-man rotation? Will the roles for Senga and Manaea, who have both struggled for length, become scrutinized? Will Tong simply receive a spot start or join another young gun in McLean to become a significant piece for a club with October plans? The Mets arent sure. Were going turn by turn at this point, Stearns said. Its going to be a combination of what the matchups are, who we think match up well, how our guys are throwing, who needs rest, who doesnt need rest. I think in September, we try not to plan too far ahead. Jonah Tong #38 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during spring training. Diamond Images/Getty Images At the July trade deadline, the Mets did not add a starting pitcher in part because Stearns cited potential help at Syracuse, referring to McLean and Brandon Sproat. McLean has arrived, while a pitcher who then was at Binghamton has leapfrogged Sproat and far surpa sed what the Mets had anticipated for this season. The Mets are aware they are moving quickly with a prospect who did not even have to be protected from the Rule 5 draft this offseason. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! They also are aware Tong no longer belongs in the minor leagues. Couple of outings [with Syracuse], and I think its hard to keep him there, Mendoza said. So here he is now. Andrei Markov Jersey |
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